The Palestine Chronology

The IDF attempts to assassinate senior Islamic Jihad mbr. Muhammad Sidir by firing missiles at his car in Hebron; Sidir is injured, 2 Palestinian children are killed, 6 others are injured. (1 of the dead, 5 of the injured are bystanders.) A 3d Palestinian is killed in al-Bireh by an IDF tank shell. The IDF also shells, destroys a PSF headquarters in n. Gaza; enters Rafah to bulldoze 3 Palestinian homes; uproots 200 olive trees in Sinjil. Palestinians fire a mortar at a Jewish settlement in Gaza, lightly injuring 1 Jewish settler. Jewish settlers in Hebron severely beat 2 Palestinian girls. Palestinians, Israeli peace activists stage a nonviolent protest at an IDF roadblock in Qalandia. (HP, LAW, MM 12/10; AP, MM, NYT, WP, WT 12/11; WT 12/12; AYM 12/12 in WNC 12/13; HA, LAW 12/13)

Arafat, Sharon meet separately with Zinni, urge him not to cut his trip short. Powell says that Zinni will indeed stay, that he never really intended to leave but just wanted to pressure the sides to act. (AP, MM, NYT, WT 12/11) (see 12/9)

In Washington, Bush hosts the White House's 1st menorah-lighting and Hanukkah party. Speaking privately with American Jewish leaders, Bush reportedly assails Arafat and the State Dept., identifies with Sharon, says that winning the war on terror means getting rid of groups like Hamas, Hizballah. (MM 12/12; MM, WJW 12/13; NYT 12/14; AYM 12/14 in WNC 12/17; WP 12/15; JT [Internet] 12/19; JP 2/1)

In Brussels, EU FMs call on Arafat to dismantle the "terrorist networks" of Hamas and Islamic Jihad; to declare, in Arabic, the end to the "armed intifada." Also call on Israel to halt assassinations, settlement expansion, attacks on the Palestinian infrastructure. (AFP 12/10; NYT, WT 12/11; IRNA, MA, SA 12/11 in WNC 12/12; AFP, MM, WT 12/12; Le Monde 12/12 in WNC 12/13; DUS 12/12 in WNC 12/14; MEI 12/21)

The IDF finds, accidentally triggers a bomb outside the King David Hotel in Jerusalem just before Israeli PM Ariel Sharon is to meet there with a European Union (EU) delegation; no injuries are reported. The IDF also moves troops 200 yds. into PA-controlled territory nr. Bayt Lahia, kills 2 armed Palestinians it claims were heading toward a nearby Dugit settlement; the PA says the men were mbrs. of the Palestinian naval police on patrol. 2 other Palestinians die of injuries received earlier. (NYT, WP 11/19; NYT 11/20; LAW 11/26)

The IDF withdraws to the outskirts of Qalqilya, keeping a closure on the city, positioning itself to reinvade quickly if so ordered. The body of a PSF officer, missing since 10/20, is found in the area evacuated by the IDF; he had been shot 10 times. A Palestinian dies of injuries received on 10/21. Israel tightens Palestinian access to East Jerusalem, deploying more border police, special forces units; placing new checkpoints nr. the "Greater Jerusalem" boundary at Anata, Bayt Hanina, Jaba', Shu'fat; closing the Bethlehem road checkpoint into the city; placing a closure on Azariyya. IDF troops, under cover of shelling and heavy machine gun fire, enter Rafah, demolishes 2 Palestinian homes, damage 2 others. The IDF also reinforces troops in Jinin, Tulkarm; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Hebron, Tulkarm; digs a trench across the main Jinin-Nablus road. Jewish settlers set fire to a Palestinian store, vandalize several other shops in the Israeli-controlled section of Hebron; shoot, wound a Palestinian teenager in Silat al-Dahir; stone Palestinian cars in East Jerusalem. Egyptian officials say that 1,200 Palestinians are trapped on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border, that Israel is only allowing 200 Palestinians/day into Gaza. (AFP, HP, NYT, WP, WT 11/5; NYT, WP 11/6; al-Quds 11/6 in WNC 11/7; PCHR 11/8; MENA 11/19 in WNC 11/20)

On the sidelines of an Euro-Mediterranean economics conference in Brussels, Arafat, Peres hold informal talks with EU reps. on the Israeli-Palestinian situation. (AFP 11/5 in WNC 11/6; NYT, WT 11/6)

Under further pressure fr. the EU, Russia, UN, and U.S., Israel agrees to pull the IDF out of the Bethlehem area on 10/27, to consider expanding the pullout to 5 other major PA-controlled towns if the cease-fire in Bethlehem holds and the PA agrees to extradite suspects in the Ze'evi case. Throughout the day, however, heavy clashes continue in, around Bethlehem except for a brief period while a team of EU officials tour the area. The IDF fatally shoots 3 Palestinians, 1 Israeli Arab; digs deep trenches in Jinin to keep Palestinians from sneaking into Israel; sets up new military outposts outside Nablus, Ramallah; enters Dayr Nitham village, opening fire on and damaging several Palestinian homes; shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah; conducts an arrest raid in Qalqilya. (MM 10/27; NYT, WP, WT 10/27; Interfax 10/27 in WNC 10/29; LAW 10/31)

The IDF pulls out of Bayt Rima. Heavy clashes continue in Bethlehem and Tulkarm, leaving a total of 5 Palestinians dead, including a Hamas mbr. killed by an IDF sniper in Bethlehem. The IDF also shells residential areas of Rafah; bulldozes a Palestinian home in Dayr al-Balah; conducts an arrest raid in Jinin. Journalists in Gaza report that the IDF bulldozing is "methodically creating free-fire [buffer] zones along the periphery of the Strip." (NYT, REU 10/25; HA, NYT, WP 10/26; LAW 10/31)

Sharon briefs his cabinet on U.S. demands for Israel to withdraw fr. areas A. Afterward, he reiterates that the IDF will only pull back if the PA adheres to stringent cease-fire demands, including the arrest and extradition of "terrorists." The cabinet declares that Israel "reserves the right to freedom of activity." In response, the U.S. convenes the trilateral security comm., and envoys fr. the EU, Russia, the UN, and the U.S. meet with Arafat. After the PA pledges that areas A would not be used as staging areas for attacks on Israel after a withdrawal, Israel agrees to begin pulling out of reoccupied Palestinian towns by 10/28. (WP, WT 10/26; NYT, WP 10/27)

The U.S. strongly condemns Israel's recent incursions into Palestinian towns, calls for Israel's immediate withdrawal. The EU, Russia, UN, and U.S. send a delegation of senior envoys to meet with Arafat to urge him to "address Israel's security concerns," to make "absolutely certain" that the PA arrests those responsible for the Ze'evi assassination. (NYT, WP, WT 10/23; MA, QA 10/23 in WNC 10/24; AYM 10/23, MA, al-Quds 10/24 in WNC 10/25; MM 10/24; NYT 10/27)

Peres arrives in Washington for 2 days of consultations with senior U.S. admin. officials. Peres is accompanied by a dozen senior Israeli officials, IDF officers, who plan to brief U.S. officials, Jewish leaders on the Israeli-Palestinian situation. (NYT, WP 10/23; HA 10/26)

Meanwhile, the IDF has entered or surrounded and cut off every major Palestinian population center in the West Bank. Fighting is especially heavy in Bethlehem. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian opens fire on Jewish settlers in Talpiot settlement, wounding 4 before being shot dead by the IDF. In an apparent assassination, wanted Izzeddine al-Qassam mbr. Ayman Abu Halawih is killed, his 3 passengers are injured when his car explodes in Nablus. A 3d Palestinian is fatally shot by IDF troops nr. Tulkarm. A 4th Palestinian dies of injuries received on 10/21. A Palestinian woman in labor is denied passage through an IDF checkpoint to a Bethlehem hospital; she gives birth at the crossing, the baby dies. A Palestinian, detained since 10/18, dies in PA General Intelligence custody; the PA claims he committed suicide. The IDF bulldozes land in Rafah, demolishing 4 Palestinian homes, at least 9 stores. Israeli authorities also demolish 3 Palestinian homes in Jerusalem. (LAW, MEZ, NYT, WP, WT 10/23; PCHR 10/24)

In Jerusalem, nearly 100,000 Israelis demonstrate in favor of increased military attacks on the Palestinians, equating Arafat to Bin Laden, calling for the removal of Arafat and the PA. (NYT, WP 10/23; MM 10/24; JP 11/9)

Hizballah fires rockets at IDF positions in Shaba` Farms. Israeli warplanes, artillery strike Hizballah positions in response. No injuries are reported. The U.S. warns Hizballah, Israel against escalating tensions. (NYT, WP, WT 10/23; SAF 10/23 in WNC 10/24; SAF 10/24 in WNC 10/25; MM, WJW 10/25)

Israel-Palestinian clashes in the Bayt Jala-Gilo area continue to escalate, spread to neighboring Aida refugee camp, leaving 13 Palestinians wounded. European Union (EU) foreign policy dir. Javier Solana shuttles btwn. Arafat and Peres, discussing the idea of a limited cease-fire that would incorporate an IDF withdrawal fr. the area. (Arafat, Peres speak directly by phone; Powell phones Sharon, Arafat.) This afternoon, the PSF sets up new roadblocks around Bayt Jala to deter Palestinian gunmen fr. entering. After 5 hrs. without gunfire, the IDF begins to leave Bayt Jala. Solana urges Arafat, Peres to discuss expanding the Bayt Jala-Gilo understandings into a full cease-fire. (BDL, HP, MM 8/29; MM, NYT, WP, WT 8/30; WJW 9/6)

Meanwhile, the settler group, the Committee for Road Safety, fatally shoots a Palestinian in the West Bank. Nr. Tulkarm, tanzim mbrs. fatally shoot an Israeli civilian; the IDF fires on Palestinians, killing 1, wounding 4. The IDF also sends tanks into Rafah; bulldozes 2 Palestinian homes, agricultural land in Dayr al-Balah; reinforces tanks, bulldozers outside Khan Yunis; demolishes a PSF post, erects a new IDF checkpoint on the Rafah-Khan Yunis road. 15 Jewish settlers (mostly women and children) attack Palestinian vendors in the Hebron market; IDF soldiers watch but do not intervene. (HP 8/29; HP, NYT, WP, WT 8/30)

In Ramallah, 2 IDF missiles narrowly miss the car of Fatah tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti in an apparent assassination attempt. Israel claims that a Force 17 mbr. traveling in a 2d vehicle, injured in the attack, was the intended target. Arafat appeals to the U.S., China, the EU, Russia to intervene with Israel to prevent violence fr. spinning out of control. The IDF also destroys a Palestinian olive grove nr. Nablus, 20 dunams of agricultural land in Jericho; shells residential areas nr. Bethlehem. Palestinian gunmen exchange fire with IDF forces outside Gilo settlement. 1 Palestinian dies of injuries received earlier. (NYT, PMC, WP, WT 8/5; al-Quds 8/5 in WNC 8/6; LAW, PMC 8/6; MEI 8/10)

In Tel Aviv, 1,000s of Israelis take part in a Peace Now march protesting Israeli violence against Palestinians. (Gush Shalom press release 8/5; NYT, WJW 8/9)

IDF soldiers fatally shoot 1 Palestinian at a roadblock nr. Ramallah. (Soldiers say the man was "moving suspiciously," they fired at his legs but "somehow struck" him in the heart.) IDF sends troops into PA-controlled al-Qarara; flies low-level F-16 sorties over Jinin, breaking the sound barrier; bulldozes 3 Palestinian homes in Gaza City, nr. Netzarim settlement; tightens the closures on Ramallah, Tulkarm (digging more trenches across roads leading to the city). The PSF arrests 2 Palestinians in the shooting death of a Greek monk on 6/12. Inside Israel, a pipe bomb hidden in a trash can explodes in a bus station in Hadera, causing no injuries. A Palestinian sniper kills a Jewish settler nr. Nablus. In response, Jewish settlers enter a nearby Palestinian village, damage buildings, set fire to an olive grove. Settlers also raze an olive grove nr. Tulkarm. 10s of armed Jewish settlers protest outside Sharon's offices in Jerusalem. (HA, JP [Internet], PMC 6/20; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/21; MA 6/21 in WNC 6/22; QA 6/21 in WNC 6/25; MEZ 6/24; MEI 6/29)

After further talks with his security cabinet, Sharon decides not to abandon the Tenet plan but says Arafat has "done nothing" to stop violence, warns that plans for a major military strike are ready but will be held in abeyance for now. Arafat accuses Israel of focusing on isolated incidents while ignoring PA successes in controlling violence; notes that the IDF has not stopped using tanks, machine guns against Palestinians or prevented Jewish settlers fr. harassing, attacking Palestinians. EU, U.S. say the PA is making a noticeable effort but should do more. (AP 6/20; NYT, WP, WT 6/21; DUS 6/25 in WNC 6/27)

At the weekly trilateral security comm. mtg., Israel presents a timetable for the IDF to completely lift its blockades in the West Bank, Gaza and to redeploy to 9/28/00 positions, but says it will not implement it until all violence ceases. Several District Coordination Offices (DCOs) have reopened in the West Bank as required in stage 2 of the cease-fire, which ends today. Israel has also reopened 5 mi. of sea off to Gaza fishermen; allowed 1,000s of Palestinian workers to return to an industrial park on the Gaza border; left 2 of 9 Palestinian homes in Rafah that the IDF occupied as security outposts. (NYT, WT 6/21; AYM 6/23 in WNC 6/26)

After phone calls to Arafat, Mubarak, and Sharon, Bush announces he will send Powell to the region next wk. to reinforce the shaky cease-fire. (MM 6/20; MENA 6/20 in WNC 6/21; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/21; JT 6/22 in WNC 6/25)

In Rafah, 1 Palestinian boy is killed, 3 are injured when PSF officers, Palestinian citizens try to prevent several Palestinian gunmen fr. firing on Israeli positions. In Gaza, 5 Palestinian stone throwers are wounded by IDF gunfire; the IDF says it was using nonlethal "crowd dispersal methods" in keeping with the cease-fire agmt. Palestinian traffic is reportedly moving freely inside Gaza, but in the West Bank, Israel has eased closures on Hebron, Jericho, Jinin only. (NYT, WP, WT 6/17; NYT, WT 6/18; MM 6/28)

In Göteborg, Sweden, the EU Ms issue a declaration on the situation in the Middle East, urging Israel and the PA to implement the Tenet cease-fire plan, on Israel to suspend settlement construction and end the siege on Palestinian population centers. (AP 6/17; MM 6/18)

A previously unknown Jewish settler group, the Brigade of Gilad and Shalhavet (named for 2 settlers killed during recent fighting) claims responsibility for ambushing a Palestinian car, killing 1 Palestinian, wounding 3. Jewish settlers also bulldoze Palestinian land in al-Sawiya village, nr. the settlements of Shilo and Aley; vandalize Palestinian property in Bayt Dajan, Bayt Furik. A Palestinian sniper wounds a settler nr. Ofra settlement. The IDF bulldozes Palestinian land in Abud; sets up 5 new observation towers on the Nablus+nQalqilya road. For the 3d day, IDF troops surround the homes of 30 Palestinian families nr. Kefar Darom settlement, bulldozing land, destroying electricity and water connections, and placing sand barricades and barbed wire, apparently to pressure them to evacuate so a buffer zone can be created around the settlement. (HP, IDF Radio, MM 6/13; WP, WT 6/14; WJW 6/21; MEI 6/29)

Tenet holds a final mtg. in Tel Aviv with Israeli, PA security officials to set a timetable for implementing the cease-fire, which goes into effect when the mtg. concludes, and to agree on initial steps to be taken within 48 hrs. Follow-up mtgs. will be held by a new trilateral security comm., directed by a CIA official. The PA says it received "a clear U.S. pledge that the U.S. will commit itself to implementing the recommendations of the Mitchell Comm. in their entirety," that the EU provided similar assurances. Hamas, Islamic Jihad denounce the plan, vow to continue the intifada. (MM, NYT, WP 6/13; AYM, MENA 6/13 in WNC 6/14; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/14; AYM, HJ, DUS, QA, al-Quds, SA 6/14 in WNC 6/15; NYT 6/16; al-Quds 6/21 in WNC 6/22)

Overnight, international leaders press Israel, the PA to show restraint, deescalate tensions in light of the 6/1 suicide bombing. Powell phones Arafat to warn him to declare a cease-fire and immediately arrest Hamas and Islamic Jihad mbrs., or the U.S. would sever all relations with the PLO and would not intervene with Israel to prevent a massive retaliation. German FM Joschka Fischer, in Israel on other matters, races to Ramallah to meet with Arafat, whom he warns to make a statement in is own words calling for a halt to violence or lose all EU political and economic support to the PA. During a heated session, Fischer, UN special coordinator Terje Larsen work with Arafat to draft a statement condemning the bombing and ordering an immediate and unconditional cease-fire, which Arafat reads publicly this morning. (MENA 6/2, AFP, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, MENA 6/3 in WNC 6/4; NYT, WT 6/3; MM, NYT, WP 6/4; WP 6/5; XIN 6/5 in WNC 6/6; al-Ahram [Internet] 6/9; JP, MEI 6/15)

Meanwhile, Sharon holds a 7 hr. mtg. with his security cabinet to discuss how to respond to the 6/1 bombing. According to an anonymous U.S. admin. official, they draw up plans to "carry out a massive, full-force invasion" of PA-controlled territory lasting up to a wk. After Arafat reads his cease-fire call, the security cabinet places its strike plan in reserve but declares that the IDF will resume instigating actions against Palestinians (see 5/22). (NYT, WT 6/3; JT 6/3 in WNC 6/4; MM, NYT, WP 6/4; Interfax 6/4 in WNC 6/5; MM, WP 6/5; al-Ahram [Internet] 6/9; UPI 6/12 JP, MEI 6/15)

The U.S. ambs. to Egypt, Israel, Jordan send an urgent cable to Powell, appealing to him to come to the region to firmly urge against violence, in favor negotiations. Powell says the time is not right. (NYT 7/5)

Meanwhile, 2 Israelis injured in the 6/1 bombing die, bringing the Israeli toll to 18. Nr. the site of the bombing, 100s of Israeli Jews surround a mosque, chanting "Death to Arabs!" stoning the mosque, breaking windows, trapping some 20 worshipers inside, attacking journalists, setting fire to 2 cars outside. Although the situation builds for hrs., Israeli police look on but do not intervene, saying, "We don't have enough manpower, and we won't use tear gas against Jews." Israelis also gather at the disco where the bombing occurred, carrying signs saying, "Enough passivity. We want war." In Jaffa, a mob of Israeli Jews sets fire to a restaurant owned by Israeli Arabs. The IDF tightens internal closures on PA areas, reports only a handful of incidents of sniping at Jewish settlements. Hamas says it will not abide by Arafat's cease-fire. (HA, NYT, WT 6/3; AN 6/3 in WNC 6/4; NYT, WP 6/4; WP 6/5; HA 6/7; al-Ahram [Internet] 6/9; JP, MEI 6/15)

The EU dispatches up to 24 security experts to Bayt Jala, Rafah to monitor the PA's cease-fire compliance. The experts, coordinated by Alistair Crooke, security adviser to EU special envoy Miguel Moratinos. (MA 6/6 in WNC 6/7; NYT 6/8; AFP 6/8 in WNC 6/11; MA 6/11 in WNC 6/12)

In Netanya, Israel, a Hamas suicide bomber kills 5 Israelis, injures 110. After dark, Israel sends F-16s to drop 1,100-lb. bombs on PA security targets in Gaza City, Nablus, Ramallah, and Tulkarm, killing 12 Palestinians, wounding 90--marking Israel's 1st use of warplanes against the Palestinian areas since the 1967 war. (Sharon makes the decision to use F-16s in a mtg. with FM Shimon Peres and DM Benjamin Ben-Eliezer; he has not met with his security cabinet in 3 wks.) An IDF officer is also killed when his car is ambushed in the West Bank. Britain, European Union (EU), Russia, the UN, the U.S. condemn the sharp escalation; urge PA, Israeli leaders to bring violence to a halt. (AP, BBC, HA, JP [Internet], MM, REU 5/18; AFP, Interfax 5/18, al-Quds 5/19, JT, MA, RMC 5/20 in WNC 5/21; LAW, PCHR, NYT, WP, WT 5/19; QA 5/19, El Pais (Madrid) 5/22 in WNC 5/23; HP, NYT, WT 5/20; al-Ra'i 5/20, MA 5/21 in WNC 5/22; MM 5/21 PCHR 5/24; LAW 5/25; MEI 6/1)

The UN Security Council (UNSC) accepts UN Secy.-Gen. Kofi Annan's 5/2 proposal for a staged reduction of UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) troops. (UN press release 5/18)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue at a high level, leaving a total of 4 Palestinians dead; another 2 Palestinians die of injuries received earlier. In the 1st major Israeli ground assault into PA-controlled territory since 9/28, IDF tanks, bulldozers enter Khan Yunis camp (see 12/13) to remove an embankment and structures that Palestinian gunmen allegedly use for cover when firing on adjacent Jewish settlements, demolishing 28 Palestinian homes, part of an apartment building, and an olive grove. The operation clears a 400-yard strip of land, leaves over 360 Palestinians homeless, sparks fierce fighting in which 2 Palestinians are killed, 25-50 are injured. Arafat calls for a halt to mortar attacks across the Green Line. At U.S.'s urging, Israeli, PA security teams meet this evening at the home of U.S. amb. Indyk to discuss a cease-fire. They make no progress but agree to meet again on 4/16. After dark, Palestinians fire 4 mortars into Nisanit settlement in Gaza, damaging 1 house, causing no injuries. The IDF shells residential areas of Abu Sunayna, Bayt Hanun, al-Haria Valley. (AFP [Internet], BBC, HP, LAW, MM, PCHR 4/11; AFP 4/11 in WNC 4/11; Interfax, MENA 4/11 in WNC 4/12; HP, JP [Internet], LAW, MM, NYT, WP, WT 4/12; JT, SA 4/12 in WNC 4/13; JP [Internet], NYT, WT 4/13; al-Quds 4/13 in WNC 4/16; MEI, WP 4/20; WP 4/21)

Donors hold an informal Ad-Hoc Liaison Comm. mtg. in Stockholm. The EU agrees to give the PA $9 m./mo. for 6 mos., urges Israel to release $120 m. in taxes owed the PA. (REU 4/13; see also AFP 4/2 in WNC 4/3; MM 4/6)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes intensify sharply after a Palestinian sniper fires on a group of Jewish settlers in Hebron, killing a 10-mo.-old girl, wounding her father, brother. In retaliation, Jewish settlers fire guns, the IDF directs shells, heavy machine gun fire on the residential area of Abu Sunayna, where the sniper fire originated, injuring 7 Palestinians. The IDF tells Palestinian residents to evacuate Abu Sunayna or risk a heavy attack. Shooting fr. the Jewish settlement continues, and the IDF clashes with settlers who attempt to occupy Abu Sunayna, but no major attack occurs, few Palestinians leave. The IDF shoots dead 1 Palestinian in a separate incident; directs shells, heavy machine gun fire at residential areas of Jericho, Gaza. Israeli sappers disarm a bomb in Petah Tikva, inside Israel. (HP 3/26; MM, NYT, WP 3/27; NYT 3/28; MEI 4/6; JP 4/13)

After 2 wks. of marathon negotiations, the Palestinians drop their call for a UN observer force in the West Bank, Gaza--opposed by the U.S.--in favor of a compromise proposal by the EU and nonaligned mbrs. calling for a "mechanism" to protect Palestinians. (WP 3/27; XIN 3/27 in WNC 3/28)

Israel, the PA teams hold several rounds of talks, alternating btwn. Taba, Elat. Mtgs. break this evening for the Jewish Sabbath, are expected to resume tomorrow night. (AP, MM 1/26; MENA 1/26, MENA, al-Quds 1/27 in WNC 1/29; NYT, WP, WT 1/27)

Israeli-Palestinian clashes continue. The IDF fires warning shots at a 20-mbr. EU parliamentary delegation visiting Khan Yunis; the EU says it will file a formal complaint. Jewish settlers beat up Palestinian street vendors in Hebron. (AFP [Internet] 1/26)

Responding to an attack on the Shaba` Farms area by Hizballah, Israel shells Lebanese areas, injuring 1 Lebanese civilian. (WT 1/27, 1/30, 1/31)